The Effects of Vitamin E and Astaxanthin on Histological Structure of Prostate and Seminal Vesicle and Epididymis in Diabetic Rats

Enhanced oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant capacity are considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic diabetes mellitus. Vitamin E and astaxanthin are strong antioxidants and it has shown to reduce oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin E and astaxanthin on histological structure of prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis in diabetic rats.
In this experimental study, 28 adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group received soybean oil, diabetic group received soybean oil, the treated diabetic group received vitamin E and treated diabetic group received astaxanthin. To induce diabetes, 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitonealy. The diabetic-treated group received 0.72 mg/kg vitamin E and 720 mg/kg astaxanthin for 50 days, respectively. The prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymis were studied after the histological procedure and hematoxylin and eosin staining.
The height of glandular epithelium was decreased in the diabetic group compared to the control (P 0.05). In the epididymis, the height of epithelium was increased in the diabetic group compared to the control (P > 0.05) and decreased in the treated groups. The diameter of tubules was decreased in the diabetic group and increased significantly after treatment with astaxanthin. In the seminal vesicle, the height of epithelium and diameter of nucleus were decreased in the diabetic group compared to the control (P > 0.05). Also, vitamin E and astaxanthin-treated groups showed decrease in these parameters (P Vitamin E and astaxanthin can improve histological changes in prostate and epididymis in diabetic rats.